Messi passes Pele's tally

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Barcelona - Lionel Messi struck twice as leaders Barcelona survived a second-half spell of pressure at Mallorca to win 4-2 and strengthen their position at the top of La Liga on Sunday.

Xavi Hernandez, Messi and Cristian Tello got first-half goals for the Catalans before Victor Casadesus and Michael Pereira reduced the lead after the interval.

Messi then hit his 15th in the league to wrap up the game and make it 76 goals now in 2012, beating Pele's tally of 75 from 1958 and taking him to within nine of Gerd Muller's all time record total of 85 set in 1972.

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